Gay marriages in California were put on hold following a ruling from the US Appeals Court which is scheduled to take up the hearings in the second week of December this year.California banned gay marriages in what is known as Proposition 8 passed in November 2008 triggering strong reaction amongst its supporters as well as opponents.

Opponents wondered how the trend-setting California state could trod on the same path as 40 others States that have banned same sex marriages.

Mr. Edelmiro Cavazos, Mayor of Santiago a tourist town near Monterrey city in Mexico, is suspected to have been abducted by the drug mafia.

Gunmen stromed in Cavazos’ residence on Sunday and abducted him. According to Alejandro Garza, Attorney General of Nuevo Leon state, the mayor was not harmed nor hand cuffed or tied as he was led outside his house.

The Congress Working Committee while clearing all decks for electing Sonia Gandhi as the party president at a meeting on Monday, took digs at two of its important allies in the UPA alliance ruling the country.

The two allies targeted are Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir which has seen a revival of violence in recent times and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee who has stormed into the Maoists stronghold holding the banner of peace.

Vedanta Resources diversified into oil business by taking over 60 per cent stake in Cairn India which is owning India’s largest oilfield at Mangala in Rajasthan.The deal is expected to be completed over a period of three months and Sesa Goa, the leading Goan mine field which was taken over by Vedanta earlier, will have a 20 per cent stake in the new venture.

Verender Sehwag led India to a six wicket win against Sri Lanka at the on going tri-series but was denied a century though he had crossed that mark only because it was a no ball.

India needed just five runs to win and Sehwag who was at the crease, just one ball to score a century. Suraj Randiv bowling the 35th over gave four byes and then two dot balls. His next was a big no-ball which Sehwag smashed outside the boundary but since it was a no-ball his score remained at 99.

Although he can buy moderate comforts for himself in the jail in Kathmandu, Charles Sobhraj is finding it difficult to find a lawyer to represent him particularly after his lawyer and to be mother in law Shakuntala Thapa was held guilty for contempt of court.

The 66-year old Charles Sobhraj who run to freedom ended after he was arrested at O Coqueiro while holidaying in Goa, cannot find a lawyer to work on a fresh application to review the Supreme Court’s decision finding him guilty of murdering an American tourist in 1975.

China has surpassed Japan to become the world’s second largest economy behind the United States of America according to government figures. Although this was expected, it is now evident that China’s ascendance as a global player is for real and it is the new economic superpower.

This was established on Monday when Japan said that its economy was valued at about $1.28 trillion which was a little below China’s economy that was valued at $1.33. It is now believed that this spurt in China’s economy will last throughout the financial year.

Barely a day after it was constituted, the Golden Jubilee Development Council set up by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, suffered a set back with its member Girish Karnad resigning from it in protest against the government’s functioning.

Noted playwright and accomplished actor, Mr. Karnad resigned from the panel to protest against the Goa government’s failure to protect art and artiste’s freedom in the wake of the cancellation of the exhibition of Dr. Jose Pereira.

Goa Tourism appears to have taken up the challenge to market the State aggressively in the face of competition not only from other states in the country but also other Asian nations.After having roped in Bollywood’s rising star Prachi Desai as a brand ambassador, Goa Tourism Development Council has now signed the iconic Konkani singer Lorna to promote Goa Tourism.